Ventura County Star from Ventura, California • 43

C3 NFL Monday Dec 25 2006 FC The Star Bengals botch shot at playoff berth NFL Bad snap on extra point gives Broncos one-point win Fantasy focus QUARTERBACKS snow on the city felt like the weather did them a favor for a change "The snow came along at the right time I guess" Broncos receiver Rod Smith said "When the ball is a little slick like that there is always an opportunity for that to happen especially when the pressure is on" Broncos coach Mike Shana-han said The Bengals didn't blame rattled nerves or bad weather "I didn't put the ball in Kyle's hands" St Louis said "We've done it a thousand times" said Larson "We didn't execute It had nothing to do with a wet ball or conditions We work on this every day in practice I reached for it The bottom line is we need to work together as a unit" Needing only to beat the Broncos to get into the postseason party themselves the Bengals (8-7) who were in control of the wild-card race before losing at Indy last week drove 90 yards in 12 plays with Carson Palmer tossing a 10-yard touchdown strike to TJ Houshman-dzadeh with 46 seconds left Then came the wide and wobbly snap that doomed the Bengals who now must beat Pittsburgh at home next week and get some help to get into the playoffs Bengals coach Marvin Lewis was kicking himself afterward "I thought about going for two" he said "But that doesn't matter now does it?" The Broncos some of whom were snowed in at their practice facility during the week when a blizzard dumped three feet of By Arnie Stapleton The Associated Press DENVER The playoffs are slipping right through the Cincinnati Bengals' fingers The Bengals lost to Denver 24-23 on a snowy Sunday when Brad St Louis' long snap on an extra point in the final minute sailed wide of holder Kyle Larson preventing Shayne Graham from even attempting his 159th straight conversion "That only happens on PlayStation games" Broncos lineman Kenard Lang said "I'm sitting there amazed" The Bengals were offside on the ensuing onside kick and then Quincy Morgan fielded the short second kickoff sealing the win for Denver (9-6) which can clinch a playoff spot with a win next week against San Francisco David Zalubowski AP The ball sails past holder Kyle Larson (19) keeping Bengals kicker Shayne Graham from trying a game-tying extra-point attempt HOPE YOU HAD HIM Marc Bulger Rams tied his career best with four touchdown passes in completing 25 of 38 throws for 388 yards in a 37-31 overtime victory over Washington Steve McNair Ravens threw for 256 yards and three TDs completing 21 of 31 passes in a 31-7 win at Pittsburgh Tom Brady Patriots went 28 for 39 for 249 yards with one touchdown in a 24-21 win at Jacksonville Brady also had 31 yards rushing Peyton Manning Colts went 21 of 27 for 205 yards and three touchdowns in 27-24 loss to Texans Jon Kitna Lions completed 27 of 45 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns in a 26-21 loss to the Bears Jay Cutler Broncos became the first NFL quarterback to throw for multiple touchdowns in each of his first four games getting two in a 24-23 win over Cincinnati HOPE YOU SAT HIM Chris Weinke Panthers attempted only seven passes completing four for only 32 yards but did manage to end his personal losing streak as a starter at 17 games as Carolina beat Atlanta 10-3 Derek Anderson Browns was picked off four times by the Buccaneers completing only 10 of 27 passes for 127 yards in 22-7 loss Eli Manning Giants completed only 9 of 25 passes for 74 yards and was intercepted in 30-7 loss to Saints Michael Vick Falcons became the first NFL quarterback to rush for 1000 yards in a season but went just 9 of 20 for a meager 109 yards with two interceptions Ben Roethlisberger Steelers was intercepted twice in loss to Ravens finishing 15 of 31 for 156 yards Matt Hasselbeck Seahawks was intercepted twice in 20-17 loss to Chargers finishing 17 of 32 for 189 yards Saints take another Giant step forward Another Charger finds the end zone Tomlinson fails to score but receiver Jackson's second TD beats Seahawks By Gregg Bell The Associated Press SEATTLE The Chargers didn't need touchdowns from LaDainian Tomlinson to win The Seahawks didn't need to win to capture the NFC West San Diego's league record holder for touchdowns and favorite to win the league's MVP award didn't score on Sunday Teammate Vincent Jackson did twice including on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Philip Rivers with 29 seconds left and the Chargers won their ninth consecutive game 20-17 over the Seahawks The AFC West champion Chargers (13-2) set a team record for wins in a season A victory at home against Arizona next week would clinch them the top seed in the conference for the first time since 1980 The Chargers already have an opening-round bye for the first time in 12 years thanks to the Houston Texans beating the Indianapolis Colts earlier in the day Tomlinson was happy to give the spotlight to Jackson who raced behind Michael Boulware for the winning score "I'm just as happy seeing other guys score than when I score" said Tomlinson who has 31 TDs this season "People expect me to score so much sometimes that it's kind of a relief when other people do it" He wasn't the only one relieved after the game The Seahawks' sting of a tough loss was soothed by the Cardinals' victory at San Francisco minutes earlier That meant Seattle (8-7) clinched its third consecutive NFC West title despite its third straight loss RUNNING BACKS HOPE YOU HAD HIM Steven Jackson Rams had 150 yards on 33 carries and six catches for 102 yards His 21-yard run in overtime beat the Redskins and kept St Louis' playoff hopes alive Ron Dayne Texans had a career-high 153 yards rushing and two touchdowns helping Houston upset Indianapolis Maurice Drew Jaguars had a 74-yard touchdown run and rushed for 131 yards in loss to New England He also had six catches for 41 yards Reggie Bush Deuce McAllister Saints The rookie Bush ran for a career-best 126 yards and a touchdown McAllister rushed for 108 yards and a TD in the win at the Giants Shaun Alexander Seahawks rushed for 140 yards and two scores in loss to Chargers Travis Henry Titans gained 135 yards on 25 carries against his former team in a 30-29 victory at Buffalo Rudi Johnson Bengals had 129 yards on 30 carries LaDainian Tomlinson Chargers rushed for 123 yards but didn't add to his NFL record for touchdowns Edgerrin James Cardinals had 105 yards on 29 carries Ladell Berts Redskins tied a team record with his fifth straight 100-yard rushing game with 129 against Rams Joseph Addai Colts rushed for 100 yards on 15 carries HOPE YOU SAT HIM Willie Parker Steelers ran for only 29 yards on 13 carries in loss to Ravens Warrick Dunn Falcons held to 29 yards on nine carries by the Panthers Frank Gore 49ers limited to 51 yards rushing by Arizona failing to surpass Garrison Hearst's single-season team rushing record By Tom Canavan The Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD NJ -If you want to know how quickly things change in the NFL take a look at the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants A year after enduring a "homeless season" in the wake of Hurricane Katrina the reborn Saints are a game away from a first-round playoff bye after beating the Giants 30-7 on Sunday In that same period Tom Cough-lin may go from the man who led the Giants to the NFC East title to the unemployment line "That would be a tremendous accomplishment considering everything that happened last year with these guys what they went through" quarterback Drew Brees said of the potential bye a year after New Orleans posted a 3-13 record The Saints (10-5) got contributions from everyone in handing the Giants (7-8) their sixth loss in seven games Rookie sensation Reggie Bush ran for a career-best 126 yards and a touchdown Deuce McAllister had 108 yards rushing and a TD and the defense limited New York to six first downs and 142 yards in a rout that turned Giants Stadium into a ghost town in the fourth quarter The Saints can clinch the No 2 seed in the NFC if Dallas loses either of its final two games (Philadelphia today and Detroit next weekend) or New Orleans wins at home against Carolina Unbelievably the Giants (7-8) who did not have a snap in Saints territory all game remain in the playoff hunt Atlanta which was beaten by Carolina 10-3 the Panthers Green Bay and St Louis also have the same mark heading into the final week of the season in the race for the second NFC wild-card berth "I feel badly for all Giants fans to come here on Christmas Eve and then for us to lose the game the way we lost it" Coughlin said 9 Elaine Thompson AP Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson pulls in a 37-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds left to give San Diego a 20-17 win over Seattle missing on 22 of his first 28 passes He finished 10 for 30 for 181 yards and is 18 for 53 in his last two games "I think struggle is a misused word" the first-year starter said "I am not denying that I haven't played my best football but I think that the key stat is obviously we have won nine in a row" That's all Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer cares about "There's one percentage that hasn't dropped: W's" Schottenheimer said "And that's all he's charged with doing" Tomlinson finished with 123 yards on 22 carries his ninth straight 100-yard game But more than half of those came on one a 62-yard romp in the first half The long run set up a 9-yard reception by Jackson for San Diego's first score Division-championship caps and T-shirts were in the Seahawks' lockers afterward though linebacker Lofa Tatupu was the only player seen wearing any of the celebration gear "We may have won it by default but the eight games we have won we've earned it" Tatupu said while donning the white division-title shirt that read "One game one dream" Seattle coach Mike Holmgren told his team immediately after the game "This doesn't have to be a morgue "To be honest with you I am more on the upbeat side than the downbeat side" Holmgren said "Our first goal was to win the division and we won the division People can say whatever they want about that and frankly I don't care I'll take it" San Diego won despite Rivers RECEIVERS HOPE YOU HAD HIM Isaac Bruce Rams caught nine passes for 148 yards and a touchdown Mike Furrey Lions caught 10 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown in a 26-21 loss to the Bears Marvin Harrison Colts scored twice and had eight catches for 112 yards loss at Houston Mark Clayton Ravens gained 108 yards on seven catches and scored a TD against Giants HOPE YOU SAT HIM Reggie Wayne Colts held to three catches for 27 yards Chad Johnson Bengals had three catches for 32 yards Patriots clinch another title in Jacksonville I 9 a JPi MfclWfS tt 1 1 SbttdHK yjlP "itm MHr iMtiu 1:55 to play Garrard though scrambled out of the pocket and fumbled after getting hit by Jar-vis Green Rodney Harrison back after missing six weeks with a broken shoulder blade recovered to seal the victory ahead 24-14 But Jacksonville answered when David Garrard hooked up with Matt Jones for a 33-yard score about a minute later The defense then forced its first three-and-out giving the offense the ball near midfield with NISSAN FORKLIFT He finished 28 of 39 for 249 yards and a touchdown completing passes to 10 receivers and picking apart the NFL's second-ranked defense mostly with short and quick throws He also ran 10 times for 31 yards getting several first downs on sneaks and scrambling for yards to avoid sacks "He's a great leader" offensive tackle Matt Light said "He went out there and did what he always does Whenever we needed a big play he's always out there making them" Brady and the Patriots (11-4) also crippled Jacksonville's postseason chances The Jaguars who have lost two in a row need to win at Kansas City next week and get lots of help to earn a wild-card spot The Jaguars made the playoffs last season but promptly lost 28-3 at New England That game was decided early in the second half when the Pats scored 21 unanswered points New England put Jacksonville away much later Sunday Laurence Maroney who missed the last two games with torn rib cartilage had a 27-yard touchdown run with 4:36 remaining to put the Patriots By Mark Long The Associated Press JACKSONVILLE Fla The New England Patriots left Jacksonville with more championship shirts and hats It wasn't the Super Bowl kind but they'll gladly wear them at least for now Tom Brady directed three long touchdown drives capped one of them with a perfect touch pass to David Thomas and helped the Patriots clinch their fourth consecutive AFC East crown with a 24-21 victory against the Jaguars on a rainy Sunday They did it on the same field they won their last Super Bowl in January 2005 "We've accomplished something now" said linebacker Tedy Bruschi while he donned a championship hat and T-shirt "It's our first goal We can look at it as a positive for the next couple of days The first thing you have to do is to win the division and then go from there" Brady was brilliant in both games at Alltel Stadium He was 23 of 33 for 236 yards and two touchdowns in the Super Bowl victory against Philadelphia He was even better against the Jaguars (8-7) Discover Nissan The FE Model is the most forward-thinking medium duty commercial truck ever Experience the Difference 'see store for details iiiiifi: mil: mwm mflCHinCRVCenTCR 34SQ East Camino Ave Oxnard CA 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